Electrical switching system

ABSTRACT

An electrical switching system is designed for use in conjunction with the ignition system of an engine having an ignition switch and an oil pump, such as the engine of a vehicle. An ignition switch is included, and supplies electrical energy to (1) one side of an oil pressure-sensitive switch, sensitive to the oil pressure of the engine, and to (2) one side of a solenoid-actuated switch. The starter switch, when closed, closes the solenoid-actuated switch to supply electrical energy therethrough to the ignition coil. After the engine is started, the oil pressure-sensitive switch closes, and electrical energy is supplied therethrough to the ignition coil. Means are included for keeping the solenoid-actuated switch closed until oil pressure in the engine has been built up sufficiently to close the oil pressure-sensitive switch.

United States Patent 7 [72] Inventor Albert,].'.\r1elloni 140 TiptoeLane, Burlingame, Calif. 94010 [21] AppLNo. 837,229 [22 Filed June27,1969 [45] Patented Jan. 12,1971

[54] ELECTRICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl l23/l46.5, 123/179 [511' Int. Cl ..'.F02b 77/08, F02n11/06[50] FieldofSearch ..l23/146.56, 179B1, 19802, 0.3, 0

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,903,876 4/1933 Pilla123/1465 2,565,984 8/1951 Newmanetalm; 123/1465 2,828,382 3/1958Davidson 123/1465 3,154,689 10/1964 Bubbenmoyer 123/1465 FOREIGN PATENTS279,551 10/1927 Great Britain l23/146.5C 5,863 4/1956 Germany l23/146.5C

Primary Examiner-Wendell E. Burns Attorney-Mellin, Moore andWeissenberger' ABSTRACT: An electrical switching system is designed foruse in conjunction with the ignition system of an engine having anignition switch and an oil pump, such as the engine of a vehicle. Anignition switch is included, and supplies electrical energy to (1) oneside of an oil pressure-sensitive switch, sensitive to the oil pressureof the engine, and to (2) one side of a solenoid-actuated switch. Thestarter switch, when closed, closes the solenoid-actuated switch tosupply electrical energy therethrough to the ignition coil. After theengine is started, the oil pressure-sensitive switch closes, andelectrical energy is supplied therethrough to the ignition coil. Meansare included for keeping the solenoid-actuated switch closed until oilpressure in the engine has been built up sufficiently to close the oilpressure-sensitive switch.

PATENTED JAN 1 2 I97! INVENTOR.

FIG..1

ALBERT J. MELLONI BY v ATTORNEYS SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG 2 ATENIED JAN 1 2 :sm

SHEET 2 0F 2 FIG. 3

FIG 4 INVENTOR. ALBERT J. MELLONI E A/ ATTORNEYS This invention relatesto an electrical switching system, and, more particularly, to such aswitching system for use in motor vehicles. 1 I j Occasionally, ithappens that the ignitionswitch of a vehicle is accidentally left openfor a long period of time after the vehicle has been used. Such anoccurence, in a conventional ignition circuit, causes thebattery of thevehicle to discharge through ignition coil. Consequently, thebattery maynot be able to supply sufficient electrical energy to actuate thestarting motor of the vehicle, when it is to be used again.

US. Pat. No.'2,l.66,498(Lacey) generally attempts to solve the problem.But the device in that patent, it will be seen; is quite complicated,with the circuitry being-quite involved. Furthermore, Lacey dependsontheexpansion and contraction of metals due to temperature change toachieve his switching, a nd the timing of such switching means isrelatively inexact. Y

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical switchingsystem'which is adapted'to keep the battery from draining even if theignition switchis inadvertently lefton.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electricalswitching system which, while fulfilling the above object, is ex tremelysimple, and is extremely effective in use;

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION Broadly stated, the invention comprisesan'electrical system" cooperating with the ignition coil of-the ignitionsystem. of an engine, and comprises a source of electrical energy, andan engine oil, pressurersensitive electrical switch.- Such systemfurther comprises a solenoid-actuated electrical switch,and an ignitionswitch which, when closed, connects the source of electrical energy withoneiside of the oil pressure-sensitive electrical switch andwith one;side of the solenoid-actuated electricalswitch. Further'included are anelectrical starting switch which, whenclosed, connectsthe source ofelectrical energy with the electrical starting motor, and which,: whenclosed, closes the solenoid actuated electrical'switch sothat the sourceof electrical energy is applied to the ignition coil through the closedignition switch, and which, when opened, opens the solenoid-actuatedelectrical switch to cutoff-electrical energy to the ignition coil. Theoil pressure-sensitive electrical switch closes, so that electricalenergy is applied through. the closed ignition switch to the ignitioncoil, when the oil pressure in the engine reaches a certain minimumlevel, and. opens to cutoff the electrical energy to the ignitioncoilwhen the oil pressure in the engine falls below that certain minimumlevel. Means are included for ensuring thatthe solenoid-acm atedelectrical switch remains closed for a time after the starting motorswitch is opened to allow'oil pressure in the engine to buildup to thatcertain minimum level."

BRIEF oescmmoN or THEDRAWTNGS These and otherobjecm of the invention\t/ill-becomeap 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Showngenerally in FIG. 1 is the inventive electrical system 10, in unactuatedcondition. Such system is used in con- V motorfor starting the engine,andan electrical starting motor junction with the ignition coil 12 ofthe ignition system of an engine. The system 10 includes a source ofelectrical energy, such as a battery 14. An ignition switch 16, whenclosed, connects the battery 14 with'one side 18A of an oilpressure-sensitive electrical switch 18, which is'sensitive throughmetal tube 19 to the oil pressure of the engine. and will close whenthat oil pressure reaches a certain minimum level, and open when thatoilpressure falls'below that minimum level. The other side 18B of the oilpressure sensitive electrical switch l8 is connected to the ignitioncoil 12 m supply electrical energy thereto when ignitionswitchlti andswitch 18 are both closed.

mountedto the body'23, and the ignition switch 16, when closed, connectsthe battery. 14 with contact 26; v

The construction of the plunger 24 is shown in detail in FIG. 4. Asshown therein, plunger 24 is actually made up of plunger body 30-, andshaft bolt 32 threaded into one end thereof.

Disposed .on the shaft bolt 32 is a contact ring 34, having insulatingwashers 36, 38 on either side thereof. The contact ring 34 is slidablealongtheshaft bolt 32. A retaining washer 40 is mounted on the shaftbolt 32. A spring 42 is disposed between the solenoid coil 22-and thecontact ring 34, hearing on I washer 36, and a spring 44 isdisposed'between theretaining washer 40 and the contact ring 34, bearingon washer 38.

Spring 44 has a greater spring constant than spring 42, the importanceof which will be discussed below.-

An electrical starting motor 46',is included for starting the engine.The closing of an electrical starting motor switch 48 connects thebattery l4-with the-starting motor 46, and also supplies electricalenergy to the coil 22 of the switch 20. This in turn draws plunger 24inward of the coil 22," and causes contact ring 34 tocontact bothcontacts 26,; 28'simultaneously. This hasthe efi'ect of closing thesolenoid switch 20. Contact 28 is connected to side 18B of switch 18 sothat when contact ring 34 touches both contacts 26, 28-, and ignitionswitch is closed, electrical energy, is supplied to ignition coil 12-nects the battery l4 with side 18A of switch 18 and contacts parent froma study of the following specificationrar'id Q drawings,in which:

. FIG; I is :a elevational view of the inventive electrical mm and 2,with the FlG.4 is an exploded side elevation of a'portion of the sole Inoid-actuated switch of the system. s

the

- 26 of switch 20. Starting motor switch 48 is closed, to start theengine. The closing of such switch also supplies electrical energy tocoil 22, drawing plunger 24 inward of coil 22, with both springs42, 44being compressed to a certain extent,

the contact ring 34 sliding to a'certain extent'alongltheshaft bolt 32(FIG. 2). Shaft- 5] 'of damper '50 moves with sh'a'ft bolt 32."B'oth'contacts 26,28 are touched by contact rin'g34 fand electrical energy issupplied to ignition coil 12. across switch '20. The enginethe'nstarts'Oil pressure in the engine sta'rt's'to buildup.

gine starts, electrical energy is cut off frorn'coil '22, and t plunger24 starts to move back outward of coil 22. Since the spring constant ofspring 44 is greater than thatofsp'ring' 42, spring'44 expandsfirst,moving the plunger-24outward ofthe coil 22 (FlG. 3); Such movement isquite 'Slow,*beingcon-- trolled by thedamper 50. D'urin'gsuch'time,"contactring 34 is still in contact with the contacts 26, 28,sothat electrical'energy' is supplied to the ignition coil throughswitch 20.-During thisintervalof time, the'oilpressureinthe' engine hasbuiltup to the minimum level "ne'cc'ssar'ytoclose oil"pressure-sensitive switch 18, so that electrical energy is now suppliedtherethrough to ignition coil 12. After such time delay, during whichspring 44 has expanded, spring 42 then slowly expands so that contactring 34 touches neither of the contacts 26, 28.

Switch 20 is now open, and electrical energy is now supplied to theignition coil through oil pressure-sensitive switch 18.

If the engine is stopped for any reason with the ignition switch 16closed, the oil pressure of the engine drops to zero, and the oilpressure-sensitive switch opens, cutting off the electrical energy tothe ignition coil 12. Switch 20 is, of course, open, since it onlycloses when starting motor switch 48 is closed. Thus, even thoughignition switch 16 is closed, the battery 14 is not connected to theignition coil 12, with the engine stopped. The battery 14 cannotdischarge through the ignition coil 12.

The system also has the advantage that, if the oil pressure of theengine drops below the minimum level necessary to keep switch 18 closed(as, for example, due to extreme engine heat, which thins out the oil,or an oil leak) the switch 18 will open, cutting off electrical energyto the ignition coil 12 and stopping the engine.

lclaim:

1. An electrical system cooperating with the ignition coil of theignition system of an engine comprising:

a. a source of electrical energy;

b. an engine oil pressure-sensitive electrical switch;

c. a solenoid actuated electrical switch;

d. an ignition switch which when closed connects the source ofelectrical energy with one side of the oil pressure-sensitive electricalswitch and with one side of the solenoid-actuated electrical switch;

. an electrical starting motor for starting the engine;

. an electrical starting motor switch which, when closed, connects thesource of electrical energy with the electrical starting motor, andwhich, when closed, closes the solenoid-actuated electrical switch sothat the source of electrical energy is applied to the ignition coilthrough the closed ignition switch, and which, when opened, opens thesolenoid-actuated electrical switch to cutofi electrical energy to theignition coil;

g. the oil pressure-sensitive electrical switch closing so thatelectrical energy is applied through the closed ignition switch to theignition coil when the oil pressure in the engine reaches a certainminimum level and opening to cut off the electrical energy to theignition coil when the oil pressure in the engine falls below thatcertain minimum level; and

h. means for ensuring that the solenoid-actuated electrical switchremains closed for a time after the starting motor switch is opened toallow oil pressure in the engine to buildup to said certain minimumlevel.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the solenoid-actuatedelectrical switch comprises a coil and a plunger extending from themovable inward and outward of the coil, a pair of spaced contacts, and acontact ring associated with the plunger to contact both contactssimultaneously when the plunger is inward of the coil, and to contactneither of the contacts when the plunger is moved outward of the coil.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the contact ring is slidablymounted along the plunger, and wherein are further included:

i. a retainer fixed to the plunger adjacent the extended end thereof;

ii. a first spring disposed between the solenoid coil and the contactring;

iii. a second spring disposed between the contact ring and the retainerand having a greater spring constant than the first spring so that, whenelectrical energy is not applied to the coil, the contact ring is spacedfrom the contacts, and when electrical energy is applied to the coil,the contact ring touches the contacts with both the first andsecondsprings compressed, and further including; IV. damping meanscontacting the extended end of the plunger so that when electricalenergy is cutoff from the coil, the plungermoves slowly outward of thecoil initially so that for a certain amount of time only the secondspring expands, and the contact ring continues to touch the contacts,and after a further amount of time, the first spring expands to move thecontact ring into spaced relation with the contacts.

1. An electrical system cooperating with the ignition coil of theignition system of an engine comprising: a. a source of electricalenergy; b. an engine oil pressure-sensitive electrical switch; c. asolenoid actuated electrical switch; d. an ignition switch which whenclosed connects the source of electrical energy with one side of the oilpressure-sensitive electrical switch and with one side of thesolenoid-actuated electrical switch; e. an electrical starting motor forstarting the engine; f. an electrical starting motor switch which, whenclosed, connects the source of electrical energy with the electricalstarting motor, and which, when closed, closes the solenoidactuatedelectrical switch so that the source of electrical energy is applied tothe ignition coil through the closed ignition switch, and which, whenopened, opens the solenoidactuated electrical switch to cutoffelectrical energy to the ignition coil; g. the oil pressure-sensitiveelectrical switch closing so that electrical energy is applied throughthe closed ignition switch to the ignition coil when the oil pressure inthe engine reaches a certain minimum level and opening to cut off theelectrical energy to the ignition coil when the oil presSure in theengine falls below that certain minimum level; and h. means for ensuringthat the solenoid-actuated electrical switch remains closed for a timeafter the starting motor switch is opened to allow oil pressure in theengine to buildup to said certain minimum level.
 2. A system accordingto claim 1 wherein the solenoid-actuated electrical switch comprises acoil and a plunger extending from the movable inward and outward of thecoil, a pair of spaced contacts, and a contact ring associated with theplunger to contact both contacts simultaneously when the plunger isinward of the coil, and to contact neither of the contacts when theplunger is moved outward of the coil.
 3. A system according to claim 2wherein the contact ring is slidably mounted along the plunger, andwherein are further included: i. a retainer fixed to the plungeradjacent the extended end thereof; ii. a first spring disposed betweenthe solenoid coil and the contact ring; iii. a second spring disposedbetween the contact ring and the retainer and having a greater springconstant than the first spring so that, when electrical energy is notapplied to the coil, the contact ring is spaced from the contacts, andwhen electrical energy is applied to the coil, the contact ring touchesthe contacts with both the first and second springs compressed, andfurther including; iv. damping means contacting the extended end of theplunger so that when electrical energy is cutoff from the coil, theplunger moves slowly outward of the coil initially so that for a certainamount of time only the second spring expands, and the contact ringcontinues to touch the contacts, and after a further amount of time, thefirst spring expands to move the contact ring into spaced relation withthe contacts.